Sky snaps inspire RHS show garden
Shropshire gardeners will this week unveil an "out of this world" attraction inspired by night sky snaps from the Shropshire Star's own astro-photographer.
Designs with Nature, based in Church Stretton, has created a galaxy-themed garden at the Royal Horticultural Society's Flower Show at Tatton Park in Cheshire.
The team, which has celebrated two gold awards and one silver gilt award from the RHS in the past two years, will open their space spectacle to the public between Thursday and Sunday.
Director Mike Russell dreamed up the concept of a Star Gazer's Retreat after seeing an exhibition by Shropshire Star staff photographer Peter Shah.
When Peter is not taking photographs for the Shropshire Star, he attaches his cameras to telescopes he designed himself to capture the stars from his garden shed.
Mike said his green-fingered group of designers, landscape architects, landscapers and RHS trained staff were excited to see the reaction of visitors to the show.
Describing his mini Milky Way, Mike said: "The garden is set in a woodland glade and features an observatory with a sedum roof and a retractable skylight for the star gazer to focus his telescope through.
"It is entered via a circular star gate, planted with sedum and wild strawberries, and a circular path of moonstone rings the reflective pool.
"Outside the observatory there is a semi-circular deck where the star gazer can sit on summer nights, surrounded by the beautiful silver birch trees and luminous planting which reflect the light of the moon. The planting is predominantly woodland themed, with the majority of plants liking semi-shade."
Designs with Nature is a design and build service, which works with local craftsmen and artists to transform domestic and public spaces.
The team created a sensory rainforest garden at Severndale Specialist School in Shrewsbury, a wildlife garden at Redhill Primary School in Priorslee and a slow wildlife garden at Longnor C of E Primary School in Shrewsbury.
They also brought to life a labyrinth, listening posts and sensory planting at Church Stretton play area off the A49. For more pictures of the gardens visit www.designswithnature.co.uk
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